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Grant Application - FY2027 Alliance for Children-Smart Start Peer Breastfeeding Support Continued Grant Funding
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Starr, Human Services Agency - Community Support and Outreach, Director, 704-296-4302
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to submit the associated grant application and make necessary assurances and certifications associated with the grant application as substantially consistent with this agenda item, which includes the authorization to execute documents related to award of the grant and budget funds as appropriate.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The Human Services Agency Community Support and Outreach Department seeks approval to apply for FY2027 Smart Start grant funding to support the Peer Breastfeeding Support program. Part of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, the Breastfeeding Support Program was established in 2000 and is available for at-risk pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants. The Program provides prenatal and postpartum support and education to WIC Program participants and Union County residents, which includes prenatal breastfeeding classes, one-on-one consults from a breastfeeding peer counselor, an after-hours telephone hotline, and issuance of various breastfeeding supplies.
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?Breastfeeding is the recommended source of nutrition and preventative health care for the first six months of life and is recommended to be continued for at least one year. Many health and scientific organizations support the benefits of breastfeeding, which is associated with a decreased risk of acute otitis media, nonspecific gastroenteritis, asthma, lower respiratory infection, atopic dermatitis, obesity, childhood leukemia, type I and type II diabetes, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for infants and children. It is also prescribed for infants for a variety of reasons such as mal-ab...
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